Product Advisory Board Sees Opportunities in Admissions, Bridge Programs, Student Success Measurement and Career Services

DENVER, Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- TopSchool, a leading SaaS provider of Student Lifecycle Management (SLM) solutions for higher education, recently gathered its Product Advisory Board to discuss the trends and opportunities in student information management that will help colleges and universities deliver a better, more supportive student experience from prospect to placement.

Among the top trends identified, the group concluded the following:

• Given the impact of the pending regulations, admissions teams will be looking at successful student characteristics to align with programs, and they will place greater importance on assessing those specific traits and behaviors of prospective students.
• Bridge programs will be put in place or grow at a number of institutions, giving both schools and students the opportunity to determine program fit and propensity for success prior to formal enrollment. Systems will need to adapt to effectively track student status and progress.
• Student success will be measured by more than just graduation rates. Schools will look to evaluate skills obtained for courses/programs for all students, including those who don't complete the program.
• Career services will expand in terms of staffing and importance. Schools will need to implement the technology and services to more effectively measure progress and placement results.

"TopSchool is forward thinking and very open to input when it comes to more effectively tracking and using student data – an approach that we as educators welcome," said Tom Gardner, vice president and CTO of American University of Antigua. "Student needs are continually evolving, and we appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with TopSchool and others in the education market as we look for better ways to attract, retain and support students."

TopSchool's Product Advisory Board focuses on best practices in student information management as it relates to TopSchool's next generation system, as well as the overall requirements of the industry.  The goal of the board is to identify trends and advance the TopSchool system to stay ahead of schools' needs.  The group is seeking additional members, and interested educators should contact TopSchool at PAB@topschoolinc.com.

"There are so many opportunities for colleges and universities to more effectively use data from a prospect's initial inquiry to a graduate's career path," said Chris Chumley, who serves as vice president of Product Development at TopSchool and leads the Product Advisory Board.  "We greatly appreciate the time and commitment of our members – their feedback and insight are valuable components of our product development efforts and strong considerations as we incorporate new functionality into the TopSchool system to advance student data management."

About TopSchool

TopSchool (www.topschoolinc.com) built the first SaaS student administrative system in higher education to address the key aspects of the student lifecycle.  The company's Student Lifecycle Management (SLM) system goes beyond the capabilities of traditional college student information systems, and includes a customizable student portal, easy-to-use CRM and SIS components, and an intelligent reporting suite.  Schools can easily manage all student information from recruiting through retention in a central location, and they can deliver more student services more efficiently.  The TopSchool system gives student-centric institutions the power to direct their own administrative tools, empowering them to drive growth, reduce costs and meet accountability requirements.

SOURCE TopSchool

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